2017 Investiture

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Thayer School of Engineering's 2017 Investiture ceremony took place Saturday, June 10. The speaker was Frances Arnold, the Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology. Thayer School Investiture is part of Dartmouth's Commencement Program. Dartmouth's ceremony took place Sunday, June 11 on the Green. The speaker was CNN news anchor and political correspondent Jake Tapper ’91.

In addition, on Sunday, Dartmouth awarded AB degrees to 98 Engineering Sciences majors. (The most popular majors for the Class of 2017 were economics, government, computer science, engineering sciences, and history.)

The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize: Alden Adolph ’11 Th’12 ’17, who, during her graduate years, earned 10 High Passes—2 with citations—1 Pass and no Low Passes.

The Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Management Prize: Sara Jacobson Th’17, who, during her internship at Seventh Generation, overcame numerous barriers to implement a more effective, standardized project management process.

The Thayer School Faculty Award for Academic Excellence: Michaela Helble Th’17 and Matthew McFarland ’16 Th’17 who each achieved an almost-perfect 3.98 GPA.

The Thayer School Dean's Service Award: George Boateng '16 Th'17, who worked to bring other students into the engineering fold, was an exceptional tutor with the Dartmouth Emerging Engineers program, and launched Project iSWEST (Innovating Solutions with Engineering, Science and Technology), an annual summer program in his native Ghana that gives high school students an ENGS 21-type experience in solving real-world problems.

The John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize: Michael Nieskoski Th’15 ’17 for his catheter/transducer system that cost only pennies to develop but led to insights into the microscopic pathophysiology of pancreas tumors and their structure that may result in invaluable new directions in pancreas cancer.

The John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize: Alden Adolph ’11 Th’12 ’17, who, in addition to her thesis on the “Impacts of Microscale Properties of Snow and Firn on Macroscale Climate Indicators,” is already contributing to scholarly work on environmental issues.

The Caroline Henderson Prize: Yu (Erin) Zheng Th'17 who achieved a 3.8 GPA — the highest in the MEM Class of 2017. She received High Passes in all of her required classes, including her ENGS 390 project, a feat no one has accomplished since the MEM curriculum was revamped in 2009.

Outstanding Service Award for Staff

Debra J. Clifford, Finance Specialist — Nominated by more than 10 of her peers, Deb is known for blending expertise on the inner workings of Thayer’s Finance Office with friendly, helpful customer service.

Outstanding Service Award for Faculty

Eric W. Hansen — The success of Thayer's Dual Degree program is due in large part to the quiet, dedicated and extraordinary service of its director, Eric Hanson.

Excellence in Teaching Award

Solomon G. Diamond '97 Th'98 — Through his courses in Machine Engineering, Computer-Aided Mechanical Engineering Design, and Neuroengineering, Professor Diamond is known for encouraging creativity, being accessible to students outside of class, setting high standards, and being passionate and knowledgeable about the course material.

2017 Robert Fletcher Award Recipient

Frances Arnold, the Dickinson Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology (transcript)